MELBOURNE, Fla. – Despite an RBI from junior Julianna Coluccio (Sicklerville, N.J./Timber Creek Regional), the Mercy University Softball Team opened its 2026 season with a 9-0 loss to Minnesota State University, Mankato and an 8-1 loss to Wayne State University on Friday afternoon in Florida.
The Mavericks (0-2) open their 2026 season with two losses, while Minnesota State (7-10) has won three games in a row and Wayne State (5-5) snapped a three-game losing streak with the win.
Game 1: Minnesota State 9, Mercy 0 (5 Innings)
Minnesota State scored one run in the first inning, six runs in the second and two runs in the third to take a 9-0 lead.
Freshman Emma Jackson (Marlboro, N.Y./Marlboro) recorded the Mavericks lone hit of the game in the fourth inning.
Mercy was led by Jackson who went 1-for-2 with her first collegiate hit. Senior Mackayla Secoda (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) allowed seven runs in 1.1 innings to take the loss. Senior Marina Provencio (Santa Clarita, Calif./Saugus) pitched a scoreless inning of relief.
Minnesota State was led by Gianna Lara who went 2-for-2 with four RBI. Jorey Fry pitched 4.0 shutout innings to earn the win.
Mercy had one hit and two errors and Minnesota State had eight hits and no errors.
Game 2: Wayne State 8, Mercy 1
Wayne State scored two runs in the top of the first to take a 2-0 lead. The Mavericks scored a run in the bottom of the first to make it 2-1. Junior Averi Miller (Las Vegas, Nev./Arbor View) singled with two outs and advanced to second after an error by the leftfielder. Miller then stole third before Coluccio singled through the left side, scoring Miller to make it 2-1.
The score remained 2-1 until the fourth inning when Wayne State scored two runs to take a 4-1 lead.
Wayne State tacked on four runs in the fifth inning to take an 8-1 lead.
Coluccio singled in the bottom of the seventh, but was left stranded at second, and Wayne State earned the 8-1 win.
Mercy was led by Coluccio who went 2-for-3 with an RBI and by Miller who went 1-for-3 with a run. Sophomore Carly Gaffney (Palmerton, Pa./Palmerton Area) allowed two runs without recording an out to take the loss. Freshman Juliana Abbene (Massapequa, N.Y./Farmingdale) pitched 2.1 scoreless innings of relief in her collegiate debut.
Wayne State was led by Maddie Hool who went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs. Elly Koopman pitched a complete game with no earned runs allowed to earn the win.
Mercy had three hits and two errors and Wayne State had eight hits and one error.
Head Coach Jaime Lorenzo and the Mavericks resume action tomorrow when they face Post at 2:30 p.m. and Purdue Northwest at 7 p.m. in Florida.
